Osun Assembly Holds Public Hearing On Kidnapping, Recommends Death Penalty For Kidnappers

A bill tagged: “Osun kidnapping and other related crimes (prohibition) bill 2020” on Tuesday received the nod of members of the public during a Public Hearing held by the Osun State House of Assembly.

The bill recommends death penalty for kidnappers as against  14 years jail term that existing laws on kidnapping approves.

The Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon Timothy Owoeye, while speaking at the public hearing  said the bill will compliment efforts of the Amotekun Corps when fully inaugurated.

He stated that it is imperative to have an enabling laws to ensure quick and diligent prosecution of kidnapping offenders.

Owoeye pointed out that ever since the issue of Amotekun Corps, there has been a downward trend in the cases of kidnapping in Osun and other South Western States.

He held that the 7th Assembly under his watch is reviewing the existing laws on kidnapping which recommended 14 years would be reviewed to death penalty.

The Speaker added that should the bill scale through the needed stages, people caught with human parts and kidnappers whose victims dies in the process of the kidnap will face death sentence as against imprisonment that was obtainable before now.

Owoeye noted that with the way kidnapping seem to be becoming lucrative, it is sacrosanct that laws with severe consequences be put in place to avoid many Nigerians becoming kidnapping target.

In his words, “Ever since the issue of Amotekun came up, I have noticed a downward spiral of kidnapping in Osun and other South West states, however I am more afraid of the surge in ritual related cases.

“The whole country was saddened at the gruesome murder and dismembering of 23-yr old favour oladele, a 400l LASU student, for money ritual purposes. We as osunites are more embittered that the killing took place in ikoyi town, our own soil.

“We as parents and community leaders must begin to re-orientate our young ones on this prevailing get-rich-quick syndrome, there is no shortcut to success, the only road I know of is preparation, hard work, patience and perseverance”.

Chairman Osun Civil Soiety Coalition, Comrade Waheed Lawal advanced reasons for government at all levels to re-double their efforts in making job available for employable youth stating that it would go a long way to reduce the crime rate.

Police Community Relations Committee Chairman in Osun, Comrade Amitolu Shittu commended the 7th Assembly for championing the crusade of bring sanity to the society.

Shittu opined that the bill should include that any kidnapper found guilty of female sexual assault and  harassment should be jailed for 50 years.

In her remarks, All Progresaives Congress (APC) women leader,Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde admonished parents to ensure peoper monitoring of their children this she would assist in the campaign against kidnapping and other related crimes.